Yield Theory

Energy stock comparison

KMI vs WMB: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Kinder Morgan, Inc. with The Williams Companies, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Energy
Industry
Same SIC
Shared themes
0
Updated
2026-02-24

KMI vs WMB: quick comparison

Company factKMIWMB
CompanyKinder Morgan, Inc.The Williams Companies, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersHouston, TexasTulsa, Oklahoma
Founded19971908
SEC industryNatural Gas TransmissionNatural Gas Transmission
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1310-K · 2026-02-24

KMI vs WMB: audited financials

KMI reported about 1.4× the revenue of WMB in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, WMB converted a larger share of revenue into net income (21.9% versus 18.0%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricKMIWMB
Revenue$16.9B$11.9B
Net income$3.1B$2.6B
Operating cash flow$5.9B$5.9B
Diluted EPS$1.37$2.14
Net margin18.0%21.9%

KMI: FY ending 2025-12-31 · WMB: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

KMI and WMB share the SEC industry classification “Natural Gas Transmission,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI)

Kinder Morgan owns one of the largest energy-infrastructure networks in North America, moving natural gas, refined products, and carbon dioxide through its pipelines and terminals. Long-term contracts underpin its income-oriented profile.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB)

Williams operates natural-gas pipelines and processing infrastructure, including the major Transco system serving the eastern United States. Its fee-based, midstream model produces relatively steady cash flows.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. KMI is classified by the SEC as Natural Gas Transmission, while WMB is classified as Natural Gas Transmission. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study KMI when…

  • Natural-gas pipeline transportation and storage demand, including volumes linked to LNG exports
  • Fee-based, take-or-pay contract mix versus commodity-price-sensitive exposure
  • Growth-project backlog spanning pipeline expansions and energy-transition investments
  • Leverage and dividend coverage from distributable cash flow

Study WMB when…

  • Crude and natural-gas prices
  • OPEC+ supply decisions
  • Geopolitics and supply disruptions
  • Capital discipline and shareholder returns

Shared research themes

Natural Gas Transmission (SEC industry)

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.KMI's fiscal year ends December 31, while WMB's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 17matched transaction rows for KMIand 15 for WMB. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

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KMI vs WMB FAQs

Are KMI and WMB direct competitors?

Kinder Morgan, Inc. and The Williams Companies, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Natural Gas Transmission.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Which is better, KMI or WMB?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this KMI vs WMB comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Kinder Morgan, Inc. and The Williams Companies, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

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